Thread: Soap vs Cream

Just curious to know the various pro/con of soaps versus creams?
I have mostly soaps but did get some Castle Forbes cream. Both seem to do pretty much the same thing for me, just curious to know why one might choose one versus another?

Its strictly what you prefer. In general one is no better than the other because of it being a soap versus a cream. Some think a soap is more traditional and some think a cream is easier to work with.

Soaps also have a tendency to give slightly better glide, where Creams tend to give better cushion.....
Is there a huge difference between the two??? NO, but hey to each their own, or in my case I don't chose I use both together

For me, creams generally make a denser more "cushiony" lather than soaps. Soaps make a lighter, slightly slicker lather. With a straight, I generally use the soaps because the lighter lather allows more feedback and gives me a better sense of where the razor is what its doing. With a DE, I always liked the heavier lather of a cream. That said, I certainly use and enjoy both. YMMV and all that...

Jordan

I've used Trumpers soap for a year now, but lately I find myself using plain Palmolive cream because I like it's freshness and it's easier and quicker for everyday shaves.
For those 'special shaves' I still return to the Trumpers Coconut.

It is all a matter of preference. However I feel there are more creams than soaps available so you're bound to find more shavers prefer creams than soaps.

Soaps and creams are both basically esterified fats and oils with additives.

IIRC we were taught in high school that if you esterify fats or oils with sodium hydroxide you get a solid soap and if you use potassium hydroxide you get liquid soap. I can hardly imagine that the soidum or potassium ions make the difference.

I started on creams, and just recently picked up some soaps.

I find the soaps to be slightly slicker, but the creams definitely give you more lather/cushion. I think the creams are a little quicker to lather up as well.

I suppose if I had to pick one to use, it would be a cream, but I wouldn't consider either "better" than the other. There probably is more variety of creams generally speaking, but I haven't seen anything that comes close to offering the selection that Mama Bear has.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Soaps also have a tendency to give slightly better glide, where Creams tend to give better cushion.....
Is there a huge difference between the two??? NO, but hey to each their own, or in my case I don't chose I use both together

+1 On using both together. Since I started that I haven't looked back.

Creams are the best. Especially Castle Forbes.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Creams are the best. Especially Castle Forbes.

My wallet thinks CF are the worst.